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Anti-corruption education is a vital component in the fight against corruption. Informed citizens are more effective in preventing the corrupt and unethical behaviour of public servants than the most sophisticated codes of conduct, laws and regulations.

With a large and growing population in the Asia Pacific under 30, anti-corruption education tactics in the region, have placed a particular focus on civic education and building a culture of integrity amongst students and youths.

TI Bangladesh has set up Advice and Information Desks to provide advice and information on rights and entitlements to patients and service recipients outside hospitals, schools and local government institutions.

In addition, the chapter has engaged in mobile Street Theatre to raise awareness on corruption among the general public. Theatre groups have been working in Mymensingh, Nalitabari and Muktagacha with voluntary activists to perform shows which to spread the anti-corruption message to the general public.

TI China is currently leading the National Network of Anti-Corruption Research Centres in Universities and Colleges to develop anti-corruption curriculum for universitiesthroughout the country.

TI Fiji has partnered with the United National Development Programme to run a National Initiative on Civic Education. As part of the programme, workshops were held throughout the country to encourage civic education to be introduced in schools and universities.

TI Korea conducts an annual Cambodia Study Tour for students to attend workshops and discuss the linkages between poverty and corruption around the world.

Transparency Maldives has produced a Civic Education Handbookto explain the concepts of democracy and governance in plain language. The handbook outlines basic government, judicial and parliamentary structures, international standards of governance and basic human and civil rights.

To improve anti-corruption awareness among school students, Transparency Maldives has also produced an A-Z Anti-corruption dictionarydepicting cartoons of different concepts such as bribery and transparency.

TI Nepal has adopted a number of methods to improve anti-corruption awareness amongst the general public. In 2006, the chapter produced over 100 radio shows, broadcast on 6 different stations, to improve anti-corruption dialogue through investigative reports, news items, interviews and opinion segments. In addition, the chapter has previously run 30 to 50 second long public service announcement campaigns that were transmitted on national TV and placed anti-corruption billboards around the country.

TI Pakistan has involved over 400 schools and about 20,000 students in their programme on a Child's View of Corruption. The programme aims to equip students with skills to realise their rights and responsibilities, to provide educatation on good governance and active citizenship. The programme is carried out with the City District Government through its ministry of education and the directorates of primary and the secondary education.

TI Papua New Guinea runs an annual Youth Democracy Camp. The camp brings together over 50 youths from 20 provinces around the country for ten days for sessions on human rights, democracy and good governance.

Transparency Solomon Islands is campaigning for the implementation of civic education classes in secondary schools. The chapter has held civic education workshops with curriculum development officers and social studies lecturers and developed a civic education teacher’s manual.

TI Sri Lanka has run a programme for high school students around the country to increase anti-corruption awareness amongst youths. Workshops were held where students were taught the fundamentals of anti-corruption and shared they views on integrity and how corruption applied to their daily lives. Responses from the workshops were presented to the Ministry of Education, academics and human right activists to initiate a dialogue on youth integrity.

TI Thailand has produced weekly live radio talk shows on anti-corruption and transparency since 2001. The 2-hour radio show "Together we are combating corruption" is aimed at educating Thai public on the issue of transparency and good governance. Guest speakers from various organisations are invited to speak on various topics such as e-procurement, corporate governance, public information, transparency and fair elections, and UN Convention against Corruption.

Transparency Vanuatu launched the first civic education manualin French and English for year seven and eight students in schools throughout the country.

How TI improves anti-corruption education in Asia Pacific: